Contrary to expectations, the United States is yet to approach Nigeria for assistance with regards to methods used to contain the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, it was learnt on Monday.
The US had last week recorded its first Ebola case in circumstances similar to the importation of the virus to Nigeria by the Liberian-born American Diplomat, late Mr. Patrick Sawyer.
Thomas Duncan, the first person to have been diagnosed with Ebola in the US, is said to be fighting for his life in a hospital in Dallas.
Based on the feat recorded by the Federal Government in the containment of Ebola in Lagos and Port Harcourt, speculations had been rife that the US would seek the intervention of Nigeria.
But the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told THE PUNCH that US had yet to approach Nigeria for assistance.
His Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, made the clarification during an inquiry by Punch correspondent on Monday in Abuja.
“As at Friday really, there was no formal request by the United States, for assistance in the containment of Ebola Virus Disease,” he said.
The Ebola case in US was recorded in Dallas, Texas, and was from a patient who had reportedly just come back from Liberia. [eap_ad_1] A statement from the Director of Centre for Disease Control and the Texas Health Department, Dr. Tom Frieden, last Tuesday said the patient had been hospitalised while contact tracing had commenced.
The patient had no symptoms when leaving West Africa, but was said to have developed symptoms approximately four days after arriving in the US on Sept. 20.
He said, “The person fell ill on Sept. 24 and sought medical care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Sept. 26. After developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, he was admitted to hospital on Sept. 28. Based on the person’s travel history and symptoms, CDC recommended testing for Ebola.
“The medical facility isolated the patient and sent specimens for testing at CDC and at a Texas lab participating in the CDC’s Laboratory Response Network. CDC and the Texas Health Department reported the laboratory test results to the medical center to inform the patient.
“Local public health officials have begun identifying close contacts of the person for further daily monitoring for 21 days after exposure. A CDC team was dispatched to Dallas, Tuesday morning.” (Punch)
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